The Fire Inside

19. The Raging Aspidoceleon

"Ha! You thought I'd tell you?" Isadora taunted.

Julien pouted. He was a bit more relaxed, minus the fact that he had a passed out Jimin on his back.

"Why can't you tell me? I just want to know if she likes me or not!"

"If she wants you to know she'll tell you. I can't tell you in her place."

"Fine, does she have feelings for me?"

Isadora coughed, "Were not gonna discuss this topic any further."

Julien looked at Isadora's curly hair in shock as she bounded away. He grumbled and muttered under his breath at how 'the puppy needs to be taught a lesson.' He felt Jimin stir and balanced her properly.

"You awake?"

He heard mumbling, but felt her go back to sleep. Her gentle exhales of breath against his neck gave him goosebumps, but she seemed to be comfortable so he didn't say anything. Her legs were wrapped around him as he supported her thighs. Her arms were loosely around his neck with her head on his back. She seemed so big, but in the position they were in, she looked so small.

"So are we just gonna walk till we get to the end?" He asked Isadora.

"I guess. That's what Casper told us."

"Ok. Makes sense."

Isadora and Julien kept walking with the faint light that didn't exactly have a light source. While they were moving forward, Julien swore he heard Jimin mumble.

"I feel weird..."

~~~~~

Maria was busy dragging a thrashing Varun and sulking Emmalynn onto the closest shore that just seemed to get farther the closer they went. When she finally dropped them on the sandy surface Varun whined.

"Why did you drag me like that! I got water in my mouth and it's gross!"

"Guys? Why is the water yellow?" Emmalynn pointed out.

Maria noticed she was right. Against the faint lights, the water seemed to have very solid yellow hues. She looked at the ground they were sitting on and put her hand on it. She felt it pulsating.

"Well. I thought it was a possibility, but I never expected myself to be right for once..." she shrugged.

"What are you talking about?" Varun looked at her quizzically.

"Uh. Well. I don't know how to exactly say this."

"Just say it!" Lynn shouted.

Maria clamped her hand on Emmalynn's mouth and shushed her, but it was too late. A low rumble echoed around the walls. They looked up and noticed that the land they were on was part of a small island. A flash of fire broke through the wall and shot right above the island's top.

"That was a bad idea..." Maria shuddered.

The island began to move, startling not only the trio, but disturbed the water as well.

"What's going on!" Varun screamed, terrified that no logic was present in this situation.

"An Aspidoceleon(I just copied and pasted. I don't know how to say it!😅). And I think the yellow is it's pee..."

Emmalynn and Varun made a face.

"What the hell! And the hell is that!" Varun screeched.

"It's like an island turtle!"

"So it's your Greek shit?"

"No! It's a beautiful creature—unless it's scared," Maria said pointing to the creature.

"So no fighting it?" Varun asked.

"No!"

Emmalynn finally decided she couldn't be weak anymore and gripped her scythe—which she somehow kept a hold of. She ran towards the other side of the island, shocked that it was so huge. Varun and Maria followed closely, weapons drawn. The island lurched to the side almost dropping Emmalynn in the water. She grabbed onto Maria's arm and pulled herself back. They kept running towards the head, that had surprisingly popped out of the water. They looked up and saw where their was a hole formed.

"We can get through that!" Maria said.

"Why?" Varun questioned.

"That was Jimin's flame! Most definitely!"

Varun nodded vigorously and ran faster.

"Man! You're so slow!"

"I have the brains! Not the brawn! Leave me be!"

When they got to the head, Varun flung himself at the hole. He grabbed onto it, but his nunchucks fell and got latched onto the turtle's branch that jutted out from its head. He hauled himself into the space and looked back at his nunchucks. He pouted but became extremely worried when he saw Maria run towards it.

"Emmalynn! Get moving! I'll be there!" She hollered.

Luckily, the girl listened and pushed herself into the man-sized hole. Maria on the other hand dropped herself towards the turtle's mouth. She was a step closer to the tree that held the nunchucks, but the island began to move faster. In panic, she moved towards the center of his head. She viscously rubbed the turtle's head.

"Maria! What are you doing!"

"Shut up Varun!"

She rubbed faster and noticed the movements slow down just a bit. She slowly walked towards the tree again,
and this time, she was able to grab onto the tree. She reached and plucked the nunchucks, seeing how she was the tallest out of the group. She skipped back to the head and knocked on the head. The turtle, feeling the unexpected gesture, moved its head towards the source. This led to the turtle moving its head up. Maria took that chance to get into the hole in the wall and was pulled in by Varun and Emmalynn. She fell in and was dropped on top of Varun.

"Thanks guys!" She said laughing.

She looked at Varun who was turning red.

"You ok? You didn't get sick, did you?" She teased.

"Shut up," he grabbed his nunchucks before getting up.

"Guys! I think Jimin and them went this way!"

Emmalynn pointed to a set of shoe marking in the ground, all which clearly pointed in one direction.

"But there are only two sets..." Varun said.

"Isadora was probably carried or something," Lynn pointed out.

They nodded and walked in the direction the footsteps pointed.

"I wonder why Jimin used her fire," Maria said.

"They're ok. They'll be fine. Right?" Emmalynn asked Varun.

He nodded, but shrugged at Maria, "I hope so. I really really hope so."

"Then let's hurry up! They're probably a little further than us!" Emmalynn dashes forward with Maria and Varun at her tail.